From the ‘big pedestrian’ to the urban and metropolitan project: assets and challenges for the centre of Brussels

The new pedestrian precinct is one of the major urban projects designed for the centre of Brussels in recent decades. In 2015, the transit route through the centre – the Anspach boulevard – was closed to car traffic. The redevelopment of the public space and the renovation of the main metro stations are now nearing completion. The realisation and challenges of this urban project are, by definition, complex. Experiences in the country and abroad, as well as the data collected by the BSI-BCO, show that it will have a significant impact at various levels: quality of public space, housing and facilities, local economy and employment, mobility, accessibility and logistics, social and cultural activities, etc. This summary note updates a previously published work (n°115). Part 1 sets out the general context of this project, which has not been spared by several external crises (lockdown following the attacks in Paris, attacks in Brussels, the tunnel crisis and, of course, the covid crisis). Part 2 develops the remaining challenges. In conclusion, the note proposes some concrete ways to improve the quality and management of the project.

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